Is the Corn Poppy Toxic? A Detailed Explanation of Its Differences from the Opium Poppy and Whether Growing It Is Illegal

Influenced by our country's traditional culture, the term “corn poppy” always gives people too much to imagine, and since the corn poppy belongs to the Papaveraceae family, everyone naturally associates it with the opium poppy. So is the corn poppy toxic? What is the difference from the opium poppy? Is growing corn poppies illegal?

1. Is the corn poppy a drug? Is it toxic?

1. The corn poppy is not a drug

The corn poppy of today is not a native flower of our country, but an imported variety from Europe. The "corn poppy" of ancient China actually referred to the “dancing grass”.

The corn poppy merely belongs to the Papaveraceae family, but unlike the opium poppy, it cannot be used to extract drugs.

2. The entire corn poppy plant is toxic

However, the corn poppy is a toxic plant, and the entire plant is toxic! Its toxicity is relatively strong.

The corn poppy is toxic because it contains a large amount of “alkaloids” in its body. Like flowering plants such as oleander, mimosa, narcissus, calla lily, lantana, datura, night-blooming jasmine, tulip, lycoris radiata, and delphinium, it can cause nervous system poisoning, resulting in symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, paralysis, coma, and shock.

2. What is the difference between the corn poppy and the opium poppy?

Although the corn poppy and the opium poppy look somewhat similar, careful observation reveals that there are still quite big differences between them.

1. The corn poppy has thin stems with more fuzz, while the opium poppy has thick, smooth-surfaced stems with a layer of “white powder”.

2. The fruit of the corn poppy is smaller, only about 1 cm in diameter. The fruit of the opium poppy is much larger, about 4-7 cm in diameter.

3. The flowers of the corn poppy are oval-shaped, mostly single-petaled, and mostly red, while the flowers of the opium poppy are nearly round, some with double petals, and come in more colors, including white, yellow, pink, and bicolor.

3. Is growing corn poppies illegal?

1. Growing corn poppies is not illegal

Since the corn poppy is not a drug, growing corn poppies naturally does not violate the law. However, when growing corn poppies, you must make sure that what you are growing really is the corn poppy, and not the opium poppy mistaken for a corn poppy, as that would be illegal. Not only would law enforcement officers directly uproot them, but you would also have to accept a fine, and if the quantity is large, you could also face criminal law penalties.

2. Notes on growing corn poppies

Many parks and homes now grow corn poppies. The specific growing notes are as follows:

(1) Do not water too much: the corn poppy is relatively tolerant of dryness and drought, but not of waterlogging. As long as the soil feels moist, that is enough. Too much watering easily causes the plant to die.

(2) Give enough light: generally no less than 4 hours per day. Of course, in extremely hot weather, still be careful not to expose it to too much sun. Insufficient light makes the flower color less good and the plant relatively short.

(3) The temperature must not be too high or too low: keeping it at 10-20°C is the most suitable.

(4) No need to fertilize too much: fertilize once before flowering.